Apparatus for sorting screws and separating them from turnings



we Modell) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

X n. P; JOHNSTON. AH ARATUS FOR SDRTING SCREWS AND SEPARATING THEM PROM TURNINGS: No. 512,300. "Patntgdfqdn. 9.1894.

EIEI

' I? ohns 56 7,

fiz verz n (No M00161. 2Sheets-Sheet-2.

D: P. JSOHNSTDNI APPARATUS FOR SORTiNG SCREWS AND SBPARAT-ING THEM PROM TURNINGS.

No. 512,300. Patented Jan. 9-, 1894.

= 6IIIIIII/III :Zy G i ms NAnb MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM Y.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

DAVID P. JOHNSTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR SORTING SCREWS AND SEPARATING IHEM FROM TURNINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 512,300, dated January 9, 1894.

Application filed April 28, 1892.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID P. JOHNSTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Sorting Screws and Separating them from Turnings, of which the following is a specification.

As is well known, when screws are formed in a lathe or other machine, a certain amount of chips and turnings will be formed at the same time, which will wind about, catch upon, or adhere to the screw, rendering it necessary to separate them therefrom. The only method heretofore known or in use, so far as Iam aware, for accomplishing this result has been to separate the screws and turnings by hand labor, obviously a lengthy and expensive process, and, when two sizes of screws are mixed together in any manner and it has been desired to separate them, this has also had to be done by hand.

The object of my invention, therefore, has been to devise an apparatus whereby the turnings, chips, &c., may be automatically separated from the screws, or whereby two sizes of screws may be automatically sorted; and my invention consists in the features and combinations hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus which I have devised for carrying out my method; Fig. 2 a plan view thereof; Figs. 3 and 4 sections on lines 3 and 4 respectively of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, and Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are detail views showing modifications of a portion of the apparatus.

A framework A is first constructed out of any suitable material, and of any form and dimensions which will enable it to accommodate and permit of the operation of the parts of the machine, as hereinafter described. Attached to this framework are guides or ways a. I then construct a box B, of any desired shape, preferably, though not necessarily,

made of metal, and provided with an inclined bottom I), a discharge opening B, and a spout C. This box also has flanges b, which Serial No. 480,297. (No model.)

engage with the ways a. A shaft D is supported at any suitable point in the framework, adapted to be revolved by any suitable means, as a belt D. This shaft is provided with a crank d, and is connected by means of a rod or pitman E with the'box B, so that as the shaft is revolved a reciprocating motion will be imparted to the box, which will slide back and forth upon the guides. A chute F, of any desired size, dimensions or material, is secured to the box by means of linksf, pivotally connected to the chute and bolted to the box, and also by means of a strap F surrounding the chute and provided with set screwsf', the strap being secured as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to the box B. From this construction, it will be evident that as the box B moves back and forth the chute will move with it. This chute can be adjusted at various angles by means of theset screws f, this adjustability being secured by the pivotal links f.

A fan or other suitable blower, G, operated by means of a belt g is provided with a tube G, which extends from the blower to a polnt adjacent to the end of the chute F. This blower is also provided with a suitably adjusted damper II for regulating the draft, and a set screWI for raising and lowering the tube G, as desired.

Receptacles J and K are provided, one be ing placed at either end of the chute F, and intended for the purposes hereinafter set forth.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7. are detail views showinga sliding shaker L, attached to the pitman E in any suitable manner. This shaker is provided with flanges L, which engage with the ways a in the framework. The links f are secured in any suitable manner to the bottom of the shaker, as shown particularly in Figs. 6 and 7. The box B is preferably made somewhat shorter than the shaker, as shown particularly in Fig. 6, and is set directly thereupon, the ears or raised edges Zof the shaker holding the box in position. By this form of construction a series of quick and sharp jolts, in addition to the reciprocating motion, may be imparted to the box to more perfectly discharge the screws, turnings, &c.,; nrough the openings 13.

The device being constructed and put together as above described operates in the following manner, power being applied to the blower and the shaft D: The screws, turnings, &c., are thrown into the box, B, and, as this is reciprocated, they are discharged through the opening 13', and, guided by the spout C, fall into the chute F, sliding down the inclined bottom thereof. As they fall into the chute, and also as they slide down the bottom thereof, they are met by the blast of air from the fan, which is so adjusted that it separates the turnings, &c., from the screws, carrying the former up the chute and depositing them in the receptacle J, the screws meanwhile sliding down the spout and entering the receptacle K. The screws will not roll down the spout in a direct line, but,owing to the facts thatthey rest upon both their shanks and heads, will roll down the shaft from side to side, thereby facilitating the separation of the turnings, &c., therefrom.

When it is desired to separate two sizes of screws that have become mixed together, they are introduced into the box B, are discharged therefrom into the spout, wherein they are separated by means of a blast, the lighter screws being carried along and discharged into the receptacle J, and the heavier ones sliding down against the blast and entering the receptacle K.

As already stated, the blast may be regulated by the damper or any other suitable means, and the angle of the chute can also be regulated by the set screws in order to make such angle greater or less to facilitate the proper separation of the articles beingacted upon.

While it will ordinarily be sufficient for the purpose of separation, to pass the mixture through the machine a single time, it may, if desired, be done more than once, or two machines may be so placed relatively to each other that as the screws leave the spout of the first machine, they will be directed into the box of the second machine, and again acted upon in the manner already described.

While I have described more or less precise forms, I do not intend to limit myself unduly thereto, but contemplate changes in form, proportions, and the substitution of equivalent members, as may be desirable or necessary.

I claim- 1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a box for receiving the articles to be separated, means for imparting a reciprocating motion to such box, an adjustable inclined chute placed adjacent to the box for receiving the articles as they are discharged therefrom, and means for introducing a blast of air into such chute, whereby the lightersubstances will be discharged from one end of the chute and the heavier from the other, substantially as described.

2. In a machine of the class described, a receiving box provided with an inclined bottom and a discharge orifice, means for imparting a reciprocating motion to such box, an adjustable inclined chute placed adjacent to the box and beneath the discharge opening thereof, means for forcing a blast of air into such chute, and receptacles located respectively at either end of the chute for receiving the separated particles, substantially as described.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a framework provided with ways, a shaker adapted to slide upon such ways, means for imparting a reciprocating motion thereto, a box resting on said shaker, an inclined chute placed adjacent to the box for receiving the articles as they are discharged therefrom, and means for introducing a blast of air into such chute, whereby thelighter substances will be discharged from one end of the chute and the heavier from the other, substantially as described.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a framework provided with ways, a sliding shaker engaging such ways, means for imparting a reciprocating motion thereto, a receptacle or box resting on said shaker, said box being shorter than said shaker, an inclined chute placed adjacent to the box and attached to the said shaker, whereby as the box is reciprocatcd the chute will be moved simultaneously therewith, and means for directing an air blast into said chute, substantially as described.

DAVID P. JOHNSTON.

Witnesses:

GEORGE S. PAYSON, SAMUEL E. HIBBEN. 

